Why Land Rover will not bring back the Defender to USA

[PacificGroveRover]

I am looking for all opinions on this topic!

Over the last year regarding encounters with various Land Rover Dealership or Land Rover Driving School employees the message has always been the same. They state that the Defender would have to be modified to meet USA safety standards, therefore it would not be cost effective or the modifications would be seen as negative in the other markets. Please chime in!atriot:

 

[TurdFerguson]

oh boy...opcorn:

 

[LRflip]

I think its better that defenders arent distributed in the US. It adds to their interest and allure. Most people automatically think "safari" when they see a defender. We dont want punk kids riding around in jacked up defenders destroying their name and prestige do we?

I say keep them overseas...I rarely see them, and thats what makes them so special. It truely brightens my day to see a really nice rover. There is a Disco XD, a D90, and a series 2a all within about 5 miles of my house, and every so often I make a detour just to check them out.

 

[PacificGroveRover]

I think its better that defenders arent distributed in the US. It adds to their interest and allure. Most people automatically think "safari" when they see a defender. We dont want punk kids riding around in jacked up defenders destroying their name and prestige do we?

I say keep them overseas...I rarely see them, and thats what makes them so special. It truely brightens my day to see a really nice rover. There is a Disco XD, a D90, and a series 2a all within about 5 miles of my house, and every so often I make a detour just to check them out.

That's a unique perspective! I must say ever blue moon when I see a D110 I due take notice and smile!atriot:

 

[byronAU]

I buy a lot of the UK LR magazines and apparently the upcoming [not yet even released in the UK] model may be exported to the US according to articles I've read about them (the new model)......over here in Oz people are talking delivery of them from about the end of this year.......LR are very busy and they'll get around to it after a full range release of the twin-turbo diesel V8's in Range Rover Vogue SE TDiV8 and Range Rover Sport TDiV8 - no plans for it to be offered in the Disco 3 or new Defender [it has its own 2.4litre DuraTorq4 -20% more toque than a Td5] at this stage apparently........LR are promoting the new engine as a "premium" engine.....smoothness, high power and astonishing torque being the features pushed - highest torque at incredibly low rpm of any LR engine, 0-60mph only .3 of a sec slower than the 4.4 V8, 26mpg city economy -astounding figures all around in a diesel engine so advanced it requiredthe design and fitting of an electronic device to prevent persons convinced it MUST BE a Supercharged petrol V8 from refuelling it with gasoline by "sniffing" for incredibly low concentrations of it and closing off the fuel filler, thus preventing a potentially bad incident from occurring.

 

[expectthebest]

I buy a lot of the UK LR magazines and apparently the upcoming [not yet even released in the UK] model may be exported to the US according to articles I've read about them (the new model)......over here in Oz people are talking delivery of them from about the end of this year.......LR are very busy and they'll get around to it after a full range release of the twin-turbo diesel V8's in Range Rover Vogue SE TDiV8 and Range Rover Sport TDiV8 - no plans for it to be offered in the Disco 3 or new Defender [it has its own 2.4litre DuraTorq4 -20% more toque than a Td5] at this stage apparently........LR are promoting the new engine as a "premium" engine.....smoothness, high power and astonishing torque being the features pushed - highest torque at incredibly low rpm of any LR engine, 0-60mph only .3 of a sec slower than the 4.4 V8, 26mpg city economy -astounding figures all around in a diesel engine so advanced it requiredthe design and fitting of an electronic device to prevent persons convinced it MUST BE a Supercharged petrol V8 from refuelling it with gasoline by "sniffing" for incredibly low concentrations of it and closing off the fuel filler, thus preventing a potentially bad incident from occurring.

If I'm not mistaken, the reason they can't be imported into the US is because they don't have air bags. If LR didn't change this in the design, I don't see them ending up here.

 

[expectthebest]

That's a unique perspective! I must say ever blue moon when I see a D110 I due take notice and smile!atriot:

I have to agree. There is something just really unique about the defender and it wouldn't be the same if they were a dime a dozen. I do with LR would offer some kind of solid axle base modle vehicle here in the US though. Something in the mid 20K price range that would be great for off roading but not so expensive that you'd worry about scratching the thing.

Right now, the only manufacturer offing such a vehicle is Jeep. (I don't include the new FJ because it just looks so silly)

 

[RRCNicky]

From what I've seen in LR mags and Land Rover exec talks - the Defender as we know and love it is pretty much dead after 2010 - the "new" redesign has been described as being built off the LR3 platform with indepedent suspension - no more solid axle vehicles left in the LR stable. Exec's have also said new designs will be based on "luxury" not "utilitarianism," so there you go...when you can finally buy one "new," will you even want one?

 

[Swift]

I have to agree with ByronAU. I think the new Defender will be the best of the lot, although people better buy quickly as I think if the new model in 2010 ends up being based on the independent suspension Disco, it will lose a lot of its rugged appeal. I can't see it being imported to the USA as it will not have airbags - I'm also in Australia and the Defender is not very common, although when you head off into remote areas, it becomes more common that expected.
Unfortunately the manufacturers make what people want and they want car-like handling and luxury extras - the Defender has none of these - but if will go wherever you want it to go.

 

[AU_88]

I have to agree with ByronAU. I think the new Defender will be the best of the lot, although people better buy quickly as I think if the new model in 2010 ends up being based on the independent suspension Disco, it will lose a lot of its rugged appeal. I can't see it being imported to the USA as it will not have airbags - I'm also in Australia and the Defender is not very common, although when you head off into remote areas, it becomes more common that expected.
Unfortunately the manufacturers make what people want and they want car-like handling and luxury extras - the Defender has none of these - but if will go wherever you want it to go.

If all people really wanted carlike handling and luxury you wouldnt see so many stupid J**ps on the road. A lot of people want something simple and fuel efficient. I would buy a base Defender with a Td5 over any Rover model and there are a ton of people out there like that. With gas prices on the raise, if Land Rover brought over a simple diesel Defender, that sold for a good price and carried the brand name, it would sell... Thats a simple point. Enthusiast like us would buy them, people looking for gas mileage would buy them, and instead of Rover people going to J**ps and Toyotas, those people would probably come to Rover. The point is, there is a huge market for a diesel Defender in the US, and if Land Rover realized that before J**p and Toyota do, they could make good money.

 

[JamesWyatt]

:yawn: :deadhorse:

 

[nicky ill]

Well, no need to bash Jeeps - especially since they offer the features you want! High cost luxury vehicles have a higher profit margin and since Land Rover North America took a big enough hit with the poor quality of the low cost Freelander, which didn't sell very well even before people knew they wouldn't hold up very well, they are going the "less vehicle sales - higher margin" route.

Yes a Defender is not a Freelander, but that all really doesn't matter anyway - LRNA have made their choices and some of us will get left behind to maintain old Rovers or buy solid axle Jeeps and Toyotas when we need a new truck...

 

[expectthebest]

I agree. No need to bash jeeps. I can't understand why LR would make the Defender an independant suspention truck. Leave the RR and LR3 for those who want on road comforts along with off road capability. The Defender has always been the all out off road vehicle. In my opinion, LR (Ford) is making the wrong decision on this one. This will ruin the LR tradition. All this when if they would offer a moderately priced all out of road machine, thousands upon thousands would be sold. Just look at all the new jeeps. Have you ever road in one? They could be the most uncomfortable vehicle ever produced! But they sell.

Those who don't like Jeep can say whatever they want (I don't really like them myself). But at least they have kept the off road tradition in tact.

 

[tomelroy]

I wish ford would sell land rover to a company that would support their past product line here in the US.....Bring back the tdi 200 or 300 and import them to the US and keep the "old school" defender alive.

12 years ago I was reading articles about range rovers getting 50mpg (40 US mpg) with the basic tdi engine.

For now I will try to find a basic tdi to put in a disco and keep my eye out for good used rovers....I fear the best years of land rover are over....

I hope I dont have to buy a jeep when all my rovers are toast...but unless land rover pulls there head out...it is looking that way.

Even a limited run for the US market, like the previous years of defender would be nice. (but diesel)

 

[nwoods]

they are going the "less vehicle sales - higher margin" route.

Yes a Defender is not a Freelander, but that all really doesn't matter anyway - LRNA have made their choices and some of us will get left behind to maintain old Rovers or buy solid axle Jeeps and Toyotas when we need a new truck...

LRNA's marketing website has statistics that indicate the exact opposite, since the introduction of the LR3 and RRS, they have sold FAR more vehicles than ever before. They are selling vehicles at a higher margin and selling significantly more of them than in the past.

The hugely successful Toyota FJ has IFS front suspension. IFS is not the end of the world if one is clever about it. Importantly, the FJ can be lifted 3" and still stay within warranty parameters. We just need to hope Land Rover remains clever.

BTW, I drove a new 4 door Jeep Rubicon the other day (my LR3 is in for service). 116" wheelbase and an all new suspension, it rode remarkably smoothly. At 6'-7" I very nearly fit, and could comfortably drive it with only minor modification. Factor in the 368 watt sound system with factory included 8" subwoofer, and it was not a bad ride at all.

Too bad it cost more than my LR3! Plus, the engine was totally gutless. I drive a V6 LR3, and my truck has way more power than the Jeep does.

 

[maxyedor]

There are several reasons why there is no NAS Defender anymore, and why the Defender will switch to the LR3/RRS platform in the future. The current Defender fails several US safety specs, it would need the external cage, airbags and dozens of other smaller changes to pass crash tests, and then they have to worry about emissions. Putting the engines from the LR3 and RRS in would solve that problem, but you still don't get a deisel.

The Defender needs to be redesigned from sctrach come 2010 because European countries are cracking down on safety devices. They will be required to have pedestrian safety zones, more driver safety, better fuel economy, cleaner emissions ect. So LR is re-doing the whole thing from the ground up.

It will be interesting to see what they do with the platform, idealy they would give it bigger wheel wells, more clearance, front and rear lockers, and somehow figure out how to put a smaller wheel on it so you could use a standard offroad tyre. If they play their cards right they could build a great truck on the LR3 platform, the LR3 itself is pretty decent offroad, I'd rate it about the same as most mildly built Discos. Of course there are more options for the Disco to specialize it, like 5" lifts and better tire selections, but if LR were to make the new Defender into an offroad oriented truck I think they could make something pretty amazing, if they put a deisel in it and sold it here in the states it would be even better.

 

[gil stevens]

IIRC while the T5 was undergoing development, it was stated that the platform is designed to accept both independant or solid axle setups with minor alterations. I think its safe to assume the new defender will be T5 based, but that doesnt neccessarily mean it will inheret the IFS and IRS..

 

[expectthebest]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the new Defender was available in both solid axel and IFS becasue they will still be producing these vehicles for the British military, right? I doubt the military wants or cares about road mannors. The problem is that the only version LR will send to the US will be a luxery version. Oh well.

 

[Lucasd2002]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the new Defender was available in both solid axel and IFS...

That would a significant amount of added tooling cost (unless they're using all the same axles/drivetrain for both). I think they would choose one and sell all versions with the same construction.

 

[BJ64]

The Defender needs to be redesigned from sctrach come 2010 because European countries are cracking down on safety devices. They will be required to have pedestrian safety zones, more driver safety, better fuel economy, cleaner emissions ect. So LR is re-doing the whole thing from the ground up.

I agree it will get a total re fit, but will we like it? It seems like the trend is for more plastic, which is not always bad but not what you want to see. I would just like them to go back to their basics with at least one model a no frills expedition grade 4 wheeler. Wouldn't there be some distinction in that. Also it would lend some off road crediability to the more civil models. Look at what the military hummer did for the H2 and they don't even compare. For the sake of the brand name Land Rover the Defender needs to be the off road benchmark even though it will not appeal to as many people except us. :smash:

As for the Freelander it must have been built for the econo minded nitch market. They should have known better to compeat with GM for the cheap 4x market (Chevy Trailblazer).